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n5 Med al.) I '4 dams-Sheet 1.

H. N. PRENTIGE.

' ELEGTRIG OUT-OUT. No. 604,938 Patented Sept. 12, 1893.

6N0 Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

11.. N. PRENTICE. ELECTRIC GUT-OUT.

No. 504,938. Patented se tjlz, 1893;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT NAPIER PRENTICE, OF STOWVMARKET, ENGLAND.

ELECTRIC CUT-OUT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 504,938, datedSeptember 12, 1893.

Application filed May 31, 1893. Serial No. 476,092- (No model.) Patentedin England April 12, 1889, No. 6,284.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HERBERT NAPIER TEEN- TICE, electrician, a subject ofthe Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Stowmarket, in thecounty of Suffolk, England, have invented certain Improvements inElectric Out-Outs, (for which I have obtained a patent in Great Britain,No. 6,284, dated April 12, 1889,) of which the following is aspecification.

The object of my invention is to provide a cut-out for electric circuitswhich is simple in construction and very efficient and certain inaction. I

The invention relates to the class of cutouts which are operated orcaused to operate by variation in magnetic attraction due to an abnormalcondition of the current in the circuit to be controlled.

According to my invention I cause the armature which is attracted orrelieved from the attraction by the magnetic coil or core (wound withwire included in or taken as a shunt from the circuit to be governed) toactuate a tumbler or kicker so that the said tumbler or kicker beingoverbalanced or released falls and acts on the bridge or contact makersto quickly and with certainty remove it or them from the mercury cups orcontacts. The kicker or tumbler or some part operated when the circuitis broken I prefer to arrange as an annunciator to clearly indicate tothe attendant that the breaking of the circuit has taken place.

In order that mysaid invention may be fully understood I shall nowproceed to describe the best means with which I am acquainted forcarrying it into efiect and for that purpose shall refer to the annexeddrawings.

Figure 1 is a side view and Fig. 2 is a front view of a cut-outconstructed or arranged according to my invention showing the parts inthe positions they occupy when the circuit is complete. Fig. 3 is a sideview showing the parts in the position which they assume when thecircuit is broken. The arrangement here shown is one in which thecircuit is broken when the current exceeds a predetermined limit. A isthe core of the electro magnet wound with wire included in or taken as ashunt from the circuit to be controlled 1) b being the sockets orbinding screws by which the external wires are secured. The said socketsor screws are on conducting pieces B B the piece B being electricallyconnected to the conducting piece B carrying the mercury cup 0 and thepiece B being in electrical connection through the coil of the electromagnet with the conducting piece B carrying the mercury cup 0. Into thecups 0 C- dip the ends d of the bridge piece D provided with arms dcentered by the pin 6 to the bracket f. On this pin 6 are also centeredthe arms 9 carrying the armature g the said arms being connected by thecross piece g extending behind the lever 11 also centered on the pin eand having acounter balance weight at h and a tail piece k constitutinga kicker. I is a screw in the bracket iby means of which the position ofthe armature g relatively to the end of the magnet core Acan beadjusted. The parts are mounted on a support or base X of insulatingmaterial. When the current is in the proper normal condition the partsremain in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 but on the currentincreasing to such an abnormal extent as to cause the electro magnet toattract the armature g the cross piece g moves the lever H into such aposition that its weighted head h causes it to suddenly fall over sothat its tail end h kicks the bridge and knocks it over into theposition shown in Fig. 3 quickly removing the contacts (1 from out ofthe mercury cups and breaking the circuit. The inner part a: of thelever H may be colored red or otherwise colored or marked so as to actas a readily observable annunciator of the breaking of the circuit.

Figs. 4. 5. and 6 are views corresponding to Figs. 1. 2 and 3 showingthe arrangement when the apparatus is to be used to break the circuitwhen the circuit falls below a predetermined limit. In these figures theparts which correspond with those shown in Figs. 1. 2 and 3 are marked.with the same letters of reference. The armature in this case is held inthe position in which the circuit is completed by the core attractingthe armature. WVhen the current lessens to a point at which theattractive power of the core is iusutticient to maintain the armature inposition it falls over and the parts operate as hereinbefore described.

When the apparatus is used for continuous ICO currents I prefer to use acore to the magnet as shown but when the apparatus is used foralternating currents I prefer to dispense with the core or to use a coremade up of insulated iron wires or plates.

1. In a magnetic cut-out, the combination with the magnet the armatureand the contact pieces, of a pivoted arm having a Weight on one endnormally opposing the action of the magnet and initially moved by thearmatnre when the current becomes abnormal, and having the other endarranged to kick the contact pieces as the Weight falls, whereby thecontact is broken, substantially as described.

2. In a magnetic cut-out, the combination with the magnet, the armatureand the contact pieces, of a pivoted arm having a weight 20 on one endnormally opposing the action of the magnet and initially moved by thearmature when the current becomes abnormal,

and having the other end arranged to kick the contact pieces as theweight falls, with an adjusting screw adapted to regulate the distancebetween the armature and the magnet, substantially as described.

3. In a magnetic cut-out, the combination with the magnet and contacts,of a slotted armature, a weighted arm having a tail piece for removingthe contact piece, the said weighted arm journaled on the same axis withthe armature, and within the slot thereof, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

H. NAPIER PRENTIGE.

W'itnesses:

S. CZANSAR, RUDOLPH CHAS. NIoKoL, Clerks to Messrs. John Newton ct"Sons, Pub- Zt'c Notaries, N0. 31 Lombard Street, London, E. O.

